Joy Reid’s MSNBC show ‘The ReidOut’ debuts at No. 1

The program made history as the second highest-rated program to air during the time slot in the network’s history

(Photo: MSNBC)

Celebrated journalist and professor Joy Reid‘s new show The ReidOut debuted this week and has already knocked her 7 p.m. EST time slot competition out of the water.

The former Managing Editor for theGrio.com has recently transitioned from her weekend gig on MSNBC to prime time during the week with a whole new political talk show, chock-full with top names in politics and meaningful topics.

READ MORE: Joy Reid makes history as host of new MSNBC show ‘The ReidOut’

MSNBC tweeted a statement highlighting the success of The RiedOut.

The first episode featured the following guests: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, presidential candidate Joe Biden, and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Reid asked the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee if he intended to have a Black woman as his vice-presidential running mate.

While she did not get a reply, Biden answered that he has not committed to a running mate yet. He did give her one nugget, revealing that at least four Black women are among the potential candidates being vetted.

All of the guests commented on her skill as an interviewer, and graciously she contends that she is standing on the shoulders of ancestors, including the recently departed John Lewis. However, she has noted that there are others.

“I’m trying to channel Gwen Ifill’s spirit, my mother’s spirit, and the ancestors’ spirit,” Reid told The Root. “Growing up, watching the news, and being a news junkie, I was being told what the world was about by almost exclusively white men.”

Reid has enjoyed storytelling and writing since her adolescence. She grew up in a household where her parents had opposing political views and she was encouraged to debate.

Joy Reid
Joy Reid (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)

“I am accountable and responsible for representing myself in a way that will be positive for people like me, and positively influential on people like me,” Reid told Rich Mag Digital.

READ MORE: Biden tells Joy Reid four Black women are on his VP list

Reid reposted Elliot Williams’ post to Instagram, which documented in real-time how diverse representation can empower youth. In the comment of her post, she lets everyone know she loves her job and encourages all Black girls to stand up.

The success of The ReidOut was preceded by her immensely popular weekend show, AM Joy. Through this new show, her audience is sure to expand.

Reid’s first episode aired July 20 premiering at number one among total viewers. She and her show have made network history twice this week: first, as the only African American woman to have a primetime weekday show on the network, and secondly by scoring the 2nd highest rating ever for any regularly scheduled 7 p.m. program on MSNBC.

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